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Alpaca

The alpaca originates from the Andes and was domesticated 700 years ago. It is a

cross between the vicuna and the guanaco. The Incas used the alpaca as a beast of burden, and it was also valued for its meat. It is often chosen for its wool which is softer, more hard-wearing and lighter than sheep’s wool. It lives in regions located

at between 2,000 and 4,000 metres above sea level.

Did you know?

Before the Spanish arrived, the llama was the only domesticated animal used on the South American continent. In the early days of space exploration, NASA used alpaca wool as it is the best natural fibre with insulating air pockets.